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Thursday, 19 July 2012

Thinking about the future

So the other day we were observed at placement. Predictably,
it was one of the more difficult sessions we have done, but I also think it
made us try harder and we got positive feedback and two new potential
references as a result.

I often have second thoughts about what direction I’m going
to go in with my career, but I think my main issue is that I’m scared to commit
to something in case it makes me unhappy, however, it’s never too late to
change your mind and this is something I need to remember.

All experience is good experience. The bad experiences make
you stronger and the good ones open doors and let you see where your strengths
lie. Your job does not define you, sure, it makes up a big part of your life,
but it does not define who you are, nor does it determine who you will be or
what you will do in future.

One quite personal example of this is my Dad. He has worked
for the same company for 16 years and now due to a series of events and a long
time thinking about it, he feels it’s time to move on. He wants to pursue his passion
and ambition of running a charter fishing business full time, he’s done it at
weekends with great success, but now he gets the chance to really make a go of
it. I know the economy is terrible and he’s 52, which some may consider a bit
old for a change of job, but I think it’s never too late to do what makes you
happy, and he has plenty of qualifications to fall back on and had faith that
he won’t end up out of work for long, if at all.

It’s so easy to think that whatever you do after school or university
will define you forever and ever, but it’s never forever and ever, it’s only
the beginning of a life time of decisions and admittedly, not all of them will
be right or ideal, but it’s the experience that counts, and even a bad
experience is more life affirming and character building than no experience at
all. Let your hobbies and interests and the friends you make and people you
love define you, don’t worry so much about the job! We all need money and we
all need to work and may not always enjoy it, but you can never lose sight of
what’s important, which is your happiness. If you’re stuck in a job that makes you unhappy,
view your situation as temporary, you won’t always work there, you can still be
anything you want to be and it’s never too late.

So what am I going to do? Well, I have a year to decide and nothing
to stop me taking any opportunity that comes my way. I’m only 21 and have a
life time of stupid, badly thought out decisions ahead of me, and to be honest,
I can’t wait to see what’s next.